The Middle - Volume Two ✔️

Chapter 41

Jamie

When I wake up, the winter sun is streaming through Patrick's bedroom window and Benji is snoring happily at the foot of the bed. That was an awesome sleep. I feel so much better now.

I look around the room and notice Patrick's gone. He's left a note on top of his snare, pinned down beneath a drumstick. Only him.

Gone to class, I have Drum first thing. I'll ditch everything else though, may even be back before you read this. If so, please ignore. If not, there's real coffee upstairs and my mom's around. P.

Well, there's no sign of him. So I'll head upstairs for some real coffee with Lola.

"Good morning, you." She beams at me the minute I walk into the kitchen with Benji. "You sleep okay? How are you feeling?"

"Yeah, awesome. And I feel good. Great, actually. Rest was what I needed." I smile back at her and walk over to the coffee maker. I'm not great with these things, since I'm so used to the instant coffee lifestyle.

"Let me do that! Sit down!" Lola scrambles over to me hastily. "I'll give Benji his breakfast and take him for a walk too. You could come? I'll walk you over to the college, you're meeting with a guidance counselor today, right?"

"Right." I say. I forgot about that. I need to discuss what's gonna happen with the rest of my classes and my final exams, on account of my physical impairment. "I hope I'll be allowed to sit my finals. I don't wanna fall behind."

"Just go in and see what they say." Lola says kindly, pouring me a cup of coffee. "You're gonna struggle with the practical side of your Guitar final though."

Fuck, I hadn't even considered that. Obviously, my Guitar exam involves actually playing the guitar. Which I cannot do. Shit!

When we arrive at the NBU campus, I say my goodbyes to Lola and Benji then head for the admin building. I have an appointment scheduled, and I've been excused from my classes for the day. I'm kinda hoping the counselor will let me bail on classes for the rest of the semester, to be honest.

And much to my delight, the counselor is in complete agreement. So, I'm officially done with my first semester classes of my first year at NBU! Awesome. I mean, I shouldn't be, obviously. But I'm happy about this. How much more could I learn over the next week or so anyway? This is good. It'll give me more time to focus on finals. The counselor tried to convince me to postpone my final exams and sit them in the New Year, but I declined. I don't want special treatment, I wanna sit my finals before the holidays like everyone else. I mean, I'm right handed, and there's nothing wrong with my right arm. I may be a little more tired and run down than usual, but I can do it. And I will.

I leave the admin office, destined for my house. I plan to sneak in and do some cleaning. I know Lola would be pissed about this (she's already offered to stop by and check on the house for me) but it's my responsibility, and she's already doing so much for me. I should do this myself.

When I get there, I see Jay and Joel's cars in my driveway. I'm not surprised at all.

"Hey there, one armed bandit." Erin greets me brightly the second I walk through the door, before turning and shouting "Guys! She's here! Told you!"

"What did you tell them?" I ask as we walk through to the kitchen.

"That you'd show up here to do some cleaning or laundry or some shit. Not happening, Hawkins." Erin says firmly. Her sleeves are rolled up and she has a towel casually slung over her shoulder. She's been doing dishes.

Joel walks in from the door leading down to the garage, carrying some empty beer bottles.

"We're here to help, Jame. You don't need to do this stuff on your own, not right now." He smiles at me. "How'd your meeting with the counselor go?"